The purpose of this study was to investigate physical characteristics and maximal aerobic power of the villagers in Kotyang and Bhadrakali in Nepal. The subjects of this investigation were 126 males(2...0-75 years old), 144 females(20-75years old) living in rural districts(Kotyang village) and 124 males(20-85 years old), 126 females(20-80 years old) living in suburban districts(Bhadrakalivillage). Measurement for physique was carried out on height, body weight, skinfold thickness(triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, umbilical). Percent body fat(%Fat) was estimated from skinfold thickness, body weight and body surface area by the equation of Nagamine. Maximal aerobic power was estimated by Margaria's method. The results were as follows: 1) The mean height and mean body weight of every Kotyang age group were almost the same as those of Bhadrakali groups and the previously reported values of some Nepalese groups, but mean weight of females for 20-29 years old was significantly heavier in Kotyang than in Bhadrakali. The mean height of young Nepalese groups was found significantly smaller than that of Japanese groups, and mean weight of every Nepalese age group were significantly lower than those of Japanese groups. 2) The mean skinfold thickness at any measured point and %Fat of the subjects in Kotyang were smaller than those of the Bhadrakali group, and those of males for 20-29 years old were significantly smaller in Kotyang than in Bhadrakali. The mean skinfold thickness and %Fat of every Nepalese age group were significantly smaller than those of Japanese groups. 3) Neither obese male nor obese female villagers were found in Kotyang. The appearance rate of obesity in Bhadrakali were recognized in only 2.4%(3 persons) of the male and 2.4%(3 persons) of the female, it was mach lower than those of several rural and urban population in Kyushu. The intake of energy of both groups of villagers in Nepal was greater than Japanese groups. The skinfold thickness, %Fat and the appearance rate obesity of the Japanese groups were greater than those of the Nepalese groups. This may be due to the lack of the physical activities of the former groups. 4) For male, the mean maximal aerobic power of every Kotyang age group was higher than those of Bhadrakal groups with coincidental age, respectively. And the mean maximal aerobic power of young villagers in Kotyang were significantly higher than that of villagers in Bhadrakali. The difference of maximal aerobic power level seems to occur due to the physical activities in daily life except work on the field. For female, mean maximal aerobic power of every Kotyang age group was almost the same as that of Bhadrakali groups. 5) Each regression equation between maximal aerobic power(Y) and age(X) were as follows: Y=61.2-0.462X in the case of Kotyang people(male). Y=48.2-0.261X in the case of Bhadrakali people(male). Y=43.7-0.234X in the case of Kotyang people(female). Y=41.9-0.222X in the case of Bhadrakali people(female). 6) For male, maximal aerobic power level of Kotyang villagers was almost the same maximal aerobic power level of the subjects in developing countries, but it was higher than the maximal aerobic power level of younger subjects in Japanese and the other industrialized countries. The maximal aerobic power level of Bhadrakali villagers was almost the same as maximal aerobic power level of Japanese and the other industrialized countries subjects. For female, the maximal aerobic power level of Kotyang villagers and Bhadrakali villagers was somewhere near the average maximal aerobic power lever of the subjects in indeveloping countries, but it was higher than the maximal aerobic power level of subjects in Japan and other industrializedcountries.続きを見る